Santorini

General Information Santorini is one of the most magical islands of Greece. It is a barren, rocky island just opposite a volcano, with black and red beaches and towns situated on high cliffs offering breathtaking views and fantastic sunsets. Santorini has a dramatic beauty as opposed to lush and green islands.

The volcano is still active, and the last eruption was in 1950, causing an earthquake that destroyed many villages on the island. The island's official name is Thira and its main town, Fira, is also the capital of the Cyclades islands. It is a cosmopolitan island and is therefore quite expensive.

The locals live mainly off agriculture and tourism. The islands largest export product is soil; 2.000.000 tons a year are used all over the world, mainly to make concrete. The Suez channel was built with this concrete for example.

Most holidaymakers stay where the beaches are, Kamari and Perissa, but these places really do not represent the island's amazing distinctiveness.

If you can, you should try to stay in Fira, Imerovigli or Oia, the towns on the cliffs, which are very beautiful and full of little cafes, shops and places of interest. There is a bus that goes to the beaches everyday, and it is much better to be in the towns in the evening and on the beaches during the day. If you stay in Monolithos you will have more peace and quiet.

Approaching the island by boat the immediate impression obtained is this is a Greek island unlike any other. The island of Santorini was formed out of the lava from the volcanic eruption in 1660 BC. The central part of the volcano sank into the sea leading to the emergence of Santorini itself and the tiny neighbouring islands of Thirasia, Palaia and Nea Kameni close by.

Today, Santorini is the only inhabited Caldera (volcano cauldron) in the world. Unlike other islands in Greece, the towns and villages sit densely on top of the massive cliffs of the Caldera and from a distance appear like snow capping the towering mountain tops. The coloured strata of the volcanic rock of these cliffs are spectacular in themselves: chocolate brown, rust red, yellow ochre, white and cream. The geological uniqueness however is not the only thing that makes Santorini a special holiday destination.

Everyone has read about the spectacular sunsets that occur on this island and the sceptic may question whether the setting sun can really appear differently here than from the neighbouring islands of Naxos or Ios. Nevertheless, the sunsets at Santorini, viewed from the Caldera, really are breathtakingly beautiful when seen as a backdrop to the volcano. The colours that streak the sky change from lilac to deep purple, from yellow to orange to red, as the golden sun sinks and becomes blood red reflecting its light on to the sea and the surrounding little islands, an amazing scene for  photography. The eastern slopes of the island are green and fertile, even in October. This is due to the copious vineyards that grow so well in the fertile volcanic soil. The terraced slopes of the mountains use every available part of this fertile land. The island suffer from water scarcity, because it has few natural water reserves, but the nature of the dry soil of Santorini produces grapes that make up one of the best wines of Greece. The climate, though damp is healthy and perfect for producing the famous wine (vinsando), fava beans and tomatoes. There are many wineries and a a local factory for canning tomato paste, tomatoes and vegetables. Santorini used to export a lot of pumice that finally stopped due to the destruction the old pumice mines did to the island. The old mines now are used for the burial of waste.
Today the island's economy relies on tourism, where tens of thousands tourists from Greece and around the world visit the island for unforgettable holidays .

History Santorini used to be a round island, but during an earthquake and volcano-outbreak in the 15th century BC the middle of the island sunk and gave it the shape it has today. This is one of the reasons why many believe Santorini really is where Atlantis once was. The Minoan civilization on the
island was razed after this, but apparently, most people managed to flee.

The island has changed names through history. Originally it was called Stroggyli ("round") since that was the shape of the island. When the Phoenicians came they named it Kallisti ("the very best"), and finally it got the name Thira after its first ruler.

Theras was the son of the Theban hero Autesion who was a descendant of Cadmus. He was the vice king of Sparta and responsible for his twin nephews Procles and Eurysthenes. When they were old enough to rule by themselves, Theras left Sparta with a company of aristocrats and settled on Santorini.

The Romans originally used the island as a place for exiles, but later helped in building up the island. The Christianization of Santorini took place between the 2nd and 5th century. The island was often ravaged and even destroyed by pirates and in 1204 it was conquered by the Venetians. It was about then the island got its current name. The islands patron saint was Agia Irini (St Eirene) and the foreign sailors called her St Irini - thus Santorini.

The island was destroyed by the Venetians in 1354, and once again in 1397, this time by the conquering Turks. In 1821 Santorini joined forces with the Greek revolutionists and the island was subsequently freed from Turkish rule. In 1956 there was a terrible earthquake which caused many buildings to be ruined. The people in Kamari are almost all from a village that was totally destroyed back then.
The underwater volcano, which is one of the rare examples of volcanoes in the world and clearly uncovered their internal structure, created from a circular island that was there before the explosion, a group of islands namely Thera, Thirassia, New and Old Kameni and Aspronisi.
The island has been reconstructed after the terrible earthquake that destroyed on 9 July 1956.

Places to see in Satorini : Fira the capital of Santorini is built on the edge of the caldera at the west side of the island, at an altitude of 250 meters and was founded in the late 18th century. It was the time when the inhabitants of the old capital of the island, the castle of Skaros which was just underneath the village of Imerovigli, began to abandon it because it was heavily damaged by the earthquakes. In the early 19th century, Fira became the capital of the island, and had access to the sea through the port of Fira that is used until today mainly for cruise ships. Fira is the seat of both the Orthodox, and the Catholic Diocese of Santorini.
What impresses at first glance in Fira is the typical architecture of the houses and the stunning views. In the town are based the public offices of the island, most of the shops, restaurants and hotels and the town itself is the most populated of the island. In Fira you can visit also the the art exhibition in the famous mansion Gizi . the Archaeological museum and the Prehistoric museum where in both of them you can see items from the excavations in Akrotiri as well as many artefacts and sculpture e covering the rich historical past of Santorini from the Prehistoric times to the Neolithic and Minoan era, the Hellenistic, Roman and Byzantine periods.
The main square Theotokopoulou is the centre of the town. There you will find most of the banks, the buses and taxi terminals and many shops.
During the evening all the terraces of the privileged cafes at the edge of the caldera filled with tourists that are coming to enjoy a drink as the sun sets over the deep blue Aegean.
At night the small streets along the east side of the town over the caldera are bursting with crowds of holiday makers that walking up and down the steps and narrow labyrinthine stone streets in a colourful environment among numerous shops, cafes, bars and restaurants. During the summer the city never sleeps, numerous cafes and snack bars are open for the clubbers until the early morning hours. In Fira there is also a folklore museum, a citadel from the Middle Ages, two Metropolis - Christian centres - a Catholic and an Orthodox. In Fira you can go to the church of Ag Mina, which is the church that most postcards of Santorini portray . If you come to Fira in September, there is a renowned classical music festival every year.

At Oia you get the best sunsets, and both Oia and Fira are excellent towns for just strolling around and shopping. The main street of Oia bursts of tourists, especially when cruise ships are arrived, strolling around the numerous tourist and souvenir shops. Be sure to find a table at one of the cafes at the edge of the caldera before the sunset.

Imerovigli It is located about 2 miles north of Fira and south of Oia. The village of Imerovigli is buid on the top of the Caldera at 300 metres over the sea level. It has a few hundred inhabitants and is a national heritage village with many chapels and churches. The most famous landmark of Imerovigli is the castle of Skaros on the top of the rock beneath the village that use to be the capital of the island of Santorini until the 18th century. There are many hotels but more quite as Fira and Oia. You can walk there from Fira going through Firostefani.

Akrotiri is an ancient town that was buried when the volcano erupted 3500 years ago. Archaeologists are still excavating it, but you can walk around in the little street quarters and see the buildings almost like they were back then. You'll be impressed by the modernity: the houses were two or three storey high, and they even had running water. The excavations have also revealed beautiful frescoes, tools and everyday life objects.

In Pyrgos a few kilometres from the capital you can see the medieval fortress Kasteli and admire a 10th century church and a monastery both with beautiful Byzantine icons and relics. The village of Messaria is also located close to Fira and is surrounded by vineyards, you should visit the two small churches that are built in caves. In Megalochori 5 km southeast of Fira interesting is the unique way that this village combines the Cycladic architecture with neoclassical mansions, there are some interesting churches to visit and many places to stay. In Perissa in addition to the beautiful black sand beach with all kinds of shops, accommodations and water sports facilities worth visiting is the ancient site with buildings and ruins from different time periods. There is an ancient theatre, the ancient market, the ruins of a temple of Apollo, a shrine of Egyptian deities and many buildings from the Hellenistic period. In Kamari in addition to the well organised beach you can visit a church of the 11th century with significant Byzantine frescos and sculptures from an earlier chirch. Don't miss to visit Finikia a small traditional village, Mesochori, Emporios the traditional old market village of the island and Karterados.

It is very nice to go on one of the boat excursions offered. There are sunset trips in the evenings, and daily trips to the volcano and the opposite islands Palia Kammeni, with warm natural wells, and Thirasia, where there is a tiny picturesque village.

Ancient Thira: is situated on top of high cliff just above Kamari, and there is also and old church there from 1100 . This was the Roman head quarters. Right at the top of the southeast peak of the highest mountain of Santorini in Profitis Helias is the ancient settlement of Thira. The winding road that leads to this settlement begins at the south end of Kamari at the foot of the mountain. The physically fit can walk up the winding mountain road. which takes around 45 minutes, but the easiest way is to drive up or take a bus and reserve your energy for the final climb to the settlement itself as this last part is only accessible by foot. The road is carefully constructed from hard stones and ends at the beginning of the archaeological area of ancient Thira. Here you will find a refreshment hut, seating and car parking space. Buses also go to this point. From the top of the Ancient Thira  there are breathtaking views over the eastern coast of Santorini, with the coastal villages of Kamari and Perissa as tiny toy towns far below. If you intend to walk or take your car it is advisable to go before 11am, in this way you will avoid trying to negotiate passing oncoming traffic on the narrow mountain road. If you are intending to walk it is recommended to wear suitable footwear because the climb from the car park to the settlement itself is not dangerous or difficult but it does not have a properly constructed road to walk on. The other most historic area of Santorini located in Akrotiri where the excavations brought to the light the remains of the Minoan town.

What to Do In Kamari and Karteradso there are tennis courts. In Perissa there is mini golf, water park, go cart and roller-skating. In Fira and Kamari there are fields for volleyball and basketball. There are also many places to go biking. Many people enjoy the two hour walk from Imerovigli to Fira- it is a very beautiful experience, but make sure you have water with you, though today the two towns with Firostefani in the middle are almost connected up. There are also opportunities to go horse riding. Most of the nightlife is in Kamari, Perissa and Fira. Do not forget the famous wineries of the island where you can visit and taste the local Santorini wine. If you are driving you will spot in many areas signs with the indication "wine roads".

Beaches Santorini main beaches have water sports. In general, Santorini beaches are wide with mainly black sand. There are also lots of currents and the waves can get very high especially at the north east side of the island. Kamari and Perissa are popular beaches with their beautiful surroundings and black sand. If you seek calmer beaches, it is better to go to Monolithos, Vlichada or Agios Georgios. For snorkelling visit Amoudi. Read more about the beaches in Santorini

Nightlife Santorini has a varied nightlife, and most bars and discos are in Fira, Kamari and Perissa. Fira is probably the most popular place, and here you shouldn't miss having a drink in one of the little cafes on the steep side. The amazing view, relaxed atmosphere and soft live Jazz music from The Zafora cafeteria, for example, will give you an unforgettable experience. Read more about the nightlife in Santorini

Food and restaurants: You can get almost everything on Santorini - from traditional Greeks food to international gourmet dinners. Try the local wine Visanto and see what you think!!! In Fira on the side of the Caldera there are numerous eateries and grill taverns where you can enjoy all kind of foods from cheap souvlaki, Giros with pita bread and hamburgers to expensive up market restaurants .The same setting of eateries can be found in Oia, Imerovigli and all the other resorts of the island.Read more about Restaurants in Santorini

Weather The weather in Santorini like in most of the Aegean islands consists of beautiful and dry Summers with temperatures reaching sometimes 35- 37 degrees but the Meletemia (north summer winds) decrease the high summer temperatures. The north east part of the islands is mostly windy while the west part is protected from the winds from the island of Thirasia. Winters can be cold and wet but never reaching bellow zero temperatures.

Shopping Santorini is a bit of a cosmopolitan island, just the number of luxury yachts that stop here is very high for such a small island, so it is quite expensive. Many artists live here, and you can buy a lot of original stuff - hand painted umbrellas, ceramics, jewellery, art etc. You can also get nice icons, but be careful, anything older than 1821 needs a special permit to be exported. There is also local wine worth trying and taking with you, the famous fava beans of Santorini (best in Greece) , local cheeses and caper. Of course if you stay longer in Santorini and would like to have your self catering, there are major international chain supermarkets like Lidle, mini markets, green grosser and all kind of  shops you will find in a city.

Getting Around Santorini is quite a small island, and it is easy to get around. There are local buses to take you to most places, but of course you can also rent a car or a bike. There are also taxis on the island.
The harbour of Athinios where the ferryboats stop is connected to Fira and the rest of the island by a well made serpentine road. Driving up or down this road can be quite an experience for anyone afraid of heights. The old port of Fira under the town is used only for passengers from the cruise ships. You can also walk up or down that road (almost 900steps) or take a donkey ride all the way. There is also a cable car taking you straight to Fira. As you arrive at Athinios you can rent a car straight away from the spot. Santorini has a very good road network and a car or a bike will make your stay more convinient.

Getting There Santorini has its own airport for domestic and international flights to Santorni. There are ferries to Santorini from Athens Piraeus 2-3 times a day, from Rafina four times a week, Ios-Naxos-Paros 2-3 times a day, Syros twice a week, Milos twice a week, Sikinos - Folegandros 4 times a week, Mykonos-Delos daily, Rhodes twice a week, Crete daily. The island is also connected by air with Rhodes and Heraclion of Crete during the summer season.

In general, Santorini is a great place to start if you want to go island hopping, since it is connected to most Cycladic islands.

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